Harare — TELONE has warned customers with outstanding bills that they risk losing their lines to those on the waiting list if they fail to settle their debts with the country's sole fixed telephone operator.

All those who have not yet cleared their debts were given up to end of this month to pay up.

In a Press statement yesterday, Tel One urged its customers to settle their bills in full to avoid termination of services.

"Kindly note that with effect from December 1, 2009, TelOne will not hesitate to reallocate, to those on the waiting list, telephone lines of customers whose arrears are in excess of 90 days past due as well as those who have defaulted on agreed payment plans," read the statement in part.

The company said it would take legal action to recover outstanding amounts that are over 120 days due.

Customers have been failing to settle their debts due to the high tariffs charged by the telephone operator.

Last week the company told a parliamentary committee that out of over US$37 million it billed customers in January it only collected slightly over US$1 million.

Government departments also owe the organisation US$12million.

The company has a foreign debt of over US$200 million and has been struggling to service it due to the harsh economic environment that affected the country in the past 10 years.